You have to cut the meat against the parallel line. As a side note, you can also do this after you are done cooking the steak. What is the best way to slice flank steak? This will allow the marinade to really soak into the steak. Flank Steak with Couscous It takes just minutes to broil this nicely seasoned flank steak. Always cut diagonally, against the grain, to make your steak tender and appealing. Continue this thread level 2. Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor except for the olive oil. Why cut flank steak against the grain? I cut it along the short side of the steak, in thin strips, as one would cut a skirt steak (which I make all the time). Once your Flank steak is perfectly cooked, grab your cutting board and slab the flank steak on it. cutting against the grain. A steak is a steak any way you cut it, but it turns out that it's significantly more tender if you slice against the grain. To revisit this article, select My Account, then. Receive offers, recipes and exclusive content to make the most of our products, Have you ever eaten a fajita with meat so tender every bite was a miracle? Flank steak that is properly tenderized, marinated, cooked, and cut against the grain is flavorful and melts in your mouth. You always want to cut flank steak at an angle, against the grain. To prep the flank steak for the marinade, score both sides of the meat. If you can master that simple skill, you are well on your way to tender, flavorful flank steak! The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast. For those cuts that have fibers running in different directions, it’s vital to “read the meat” and adjust the direction in which you’re slicing. Cutting the steak against the grain, in turn, means that you will not have to do much hard work when you chew it. The differences between skirt steak and flank steak are pretty small. It’s easy to identify the long grains of muscle fiber in flank steak. How To Make Broiled Flank Steak. How can I make my steak juicy and tender? How to cut a flank steak isn't too difficult. Eat it thinly sliced and cut against the grain for maximum tenderness. You always want to cut flank steak at an angle, against the grain. You will see a parallel pattern on the piece of meat. The grain of the meat is easier to identify in certain cuts of meat with more sinew—like flank, hanger, and skirt steak—than it is in lean cuts, like tenderloin. I like to score it along the grain, but again, it’s up to you. Eat it thinly sliced and cut against the grain for maximum tenderness. To cut across the grain look at the whole flank steak to determine which direction the muscle fibers are running, then line up your knife (try this J.A. Step 2:. In the above picture, how could he have cut it that wouldn't have been against the grain? The grain of the meat refers to the direction that the muscle fibers are aligned on a piece of meat. Beef; Directions. This is important: once it’s cooked, cut flank steak into thin slices and against the grain and it will be tender to chew and not stringy. Slicing against the grain is easiest with tougher cuts of meat, where the bundles of muscle fiber are more prominent and easy to spot. After your cooked steak has rested, remember that direction and thinly cut across (not with) the grain with a sharp knife held at about a 45-degree angle. It retains the moisture of the meat. Learn more. Just be sure to cut the meat against the grain-across, not parallel with, the visible lines of muscle fibers-so the steak will be tender, not chewy. Flank steak is interesting. The grain of the steak is referring to the muscle fibers within the piece of meat. Flank steak can be a little tough unless you slice it properly. How To Cut Steak Against The Grain – Step-by-step Guide Step 1:. Method 2 of 3: Slicing a Flank Steak. How to Cut Flank Steak Method 1 of 3: Trimming Your Flank Steak. You can tell what way the grain is going by reading the muscle fibers. Cooking flank steak: Flanks steaks take to marinades very well, and some marinades can help to tenderize the meat. Step 4 Place the piece of meat on the cut board: Place the piece of meat on the cut board against the grain. So you'll want to either cook it quickly over high heat as we're going to do here, or slowly in a low oven as I do when making homemade beef jerky. Yes, you can make this ahead. Thin slices of meat cut against the grain will produce the most tender cuts. Recipe Tags. Doing so will give you perfect, tender results. Slice the meat on an angle across the grain for the most tender results. Cooking flank steak: Flanks steaks take to marinades very well, and some marinades can help to tenderize the meat. Then, grab the membrane and pull it out with your hand. Learn how to properly slice a flank steak. Below are the five necessary steps for grilling flank steak. The grain usually runs along the length of the meat. A fajita in Tex-Mex cuisine is any grilled meat served as a taco on a flour or corn tortilla. Using the carving fork, hold the steak down firmly. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated as of 1/1/21) and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement (updated as of 1/1/21) and Your California Privacy Rights. Place the blade against the grain on one end of the meat. The process is the exact same for flank steak, but your cooking times will likely be longer since flank is a thicker cut of beef. If you can’t get your hands on flank steak, then opt for skirt steak or use a strip steak, such as New York or Kansas City Strip. Choose which end of the meat you want to start slicing from and place the blade of the knife about 1⁄2 inch (1.3 cm) away from the edge of that end. 0 shares. For easy slicing, place the meat in the freezer for 15 minutes and then slice. It’s best to cut flank steak against the grain so that you cut through and shorten the meat fibers. Put your finger on the meat and feel the line. Garlic Balsamic Flank Steak. This is true of all different cuts of meats. The grain usually runs along the length of the meat. Step 5: Cut the Steak at a 45-degree Angle . To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories. If you’ve just grilled the meat, it’s possible to confuse the grill lines with the grain lines. The real trick to understanding this cut of meat is to know where the grain is and slice it thinly against the grain (i.e., perpendicular to the lines you see running through the flank steak). You can identify the grain by long lines that run along the length of the meat. This questions should be obvious, but since I don't cook flank steak too often, I am not sure I've been doing it correctly. If he rotated his cut 90 degree and cut along the length of the steak? © 2021 Condé Nast. AND resting it properly! How To Make Broiled Flank Steak. 8. Henckels Carving Knife, $12.95, Walmart) perpendicularly (you'll be cutting through the fibers not parallel to them) to that and slice. If you’d like to put this into practice with a flank steak as shown in the video, try one of these! It’s best to cut flank steak against the grain so that you cut through and shorten the meat fibers. During cattle roundups, cows were butchered regularly to feed the hand… If you are making a dish that requires thin strips, cut the London broil into 0.25 inches (0.64 cm) strips at a 45-degree angle. Slicing steak is a way of stretching more expensive cuts like rib-eye to feed more people (by serving slices you don't necessarily need to buy individual steaks for each individual at the table!). This will allow the marinade to really soak into the steak. All rights reserved. This steak has been cooked for 15 minutes and then we let. This is a way of saying that you cut with your knife tilted on a 45 degree angle to your cutting board. Then, grab the membrane and pull it out with your hand. Then, make up-and-down slices with a sharp knife. Why do you need to slice against the grain so you don’t ruin a perfect steak? You will see a parallel pattern on the piece of meat. Once your Flank steak is perfectly cooked, grab your, If your cut came with silverskin, slice under it on a corner of the steak. Yes, you can make this ahead. For skirt steak, you might only need to sear for about 1 1/2 minutes per side, depending on how thin your cut is. Report Save. I also like to slice my flank steak pretty thin! Once the steak is finished, remove it from the griddle and let it rest for at least 5 minutes before cutting. Flank steak has a rich beefy flavor, but can be chewy if not properly cooked and cut. To remove this skin, place your knife just below the skin on either corner of the skin. Steak Revolution is reader-supported. An average size flank steak is around an inch thick and 12 inches long, usually weighing in at around 1½ to 3 pounds. It's incredibly flavorful - I love its beefy taste - but it's a tough cut of meat with thick, prominent muscle fibers. No matter the cooking method, with or without a marinade, for the most delicious results, you should always cut flank steak across the grain. One popular tip is to slice on a bias. Put your flank steak (one piece or sliced) onto the griddle. How do you make sure you’re always slicing the right way? Mostly flank steaks are covered with silver skin on them which is a fat layer to preserve the meat inside. If your cut came with silverskin, slice under it on a corner of the steak. Run your knife again the grain to cut the flank steak. Learn how to properly slice a flank steak. Always cut diagonally, against the grain, to make your steak tender and appealing. We often say in our recipes to cut meat "across the grain" or "against the grain." Put the cooking grate in place, cover, and allow grill to preheat for 5 minutes. Step 1. It’s important because meat cut in the wrong direction turns out chewy and unpleasant, while meat cut against the grain chews easily and falls apart in your mouth (a good thing!) Flank steak is a fantastic cut of meat that takes really well to marinades and quick grilling. The meat from this hard working muscle is coarse grained and lean. We're cutting nice, thin slices that will be easy to chew. Do I cut flank steak with or against the grain? The most important thing to remember when cutting flank steak is to cut against the grain. To identify which direction the grain of the meat is running, look for the parallel lines of muscle fiber running down the meat, and slice perpendicular to them. Slow cooking flank steak in a crock pot is a great option. Share. “Depending on where the cut is harvested, the muscle may be tougher with more connective tissue or tender with very little. Epicurious may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. it rest for 3 minutes to let the juices redistribute. 141. cut across the grain on a slight diagonal. Cooking flank … If you choose to cut prior to marinating, it can also be helpful to cut while the meat is still a tad frozen. A slice of flank steak cut against the grain took on average 383 grams of force to bite 5mm into the meat 'When we compare both steaks sliced with the grain, we found that flank … Don’t do that. By cutting against the grain, we want to cut through the fibers and shorten them, rather than cut in the same direction that they run. Cause if it's not, the grain is a lot harder to find, which is fine because it's also a lot less important — cut your own filets and porterhouses the way you like. Cut the meat against the grain to achieve the best taste and texture. Broiled Flank Steak Storage Instructions Can you make it ahead? Mix up the flank steak … You can substitute a pound of sirloin steak for the flank steak if you prefer. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin It's also a technique that renders more economical cuts like flank steaks fork-tender by cutting through the long fibers that make them tough in the first place. This will make the meat easier to chew. I always see this mentioned but never quite comprehend what it means/how to make sure I'm doing it. Cutting these fibers across, rather than parallel, makes for shorter muscle fibers that attribute to a more tender, and less chewy, steak. Cutting on a diagonal makes the slices slightly wider, and cutting against the grain makes the fibers short. Just take the rested meat, and slice ¼ inch pieces against the grain. Do you cut flank steak with or against the grain? Steak Revolution is reader-supported. When slicing the flank steak into small pieces, slice against the grain (perpendicular to the long lines of muscle). … In this video, you’ll learn how to identify which direction the grain is running in any large cut of meat, and how to slice the meat against the grain. If you are making a dish that requires thin strips, cut the London broil into 0.25 inches (0.64 cm) strips at a 45-degree angle. Wait! Align the steak on the cutting board so the muscle fibers run left to right. Flank steak that is properly tenderized, marinated, cooked, and cut against the grain is flavorful and melts in your mouth. We all have probably heard, or read on our grilling recipes, that tough muscles like flank steak or tri-tip roast should be sliced thinly against the grain. Remember, when cutting a flank steak, you need to cut against the grain. Slice the skin off of the meat by pulling the skin and run the knife between meat and skin. So be sincere and always cut your meat against the grain. Put your finger on the meat and feel the line. Instead of cutting along those lines, you cut across it. Whether you are new to grilling or have been firing up the pit for years, anyone can grill a delicious flank steak and that’s tender, juicy, and have everyone begging for more. When you buy through a link on this page, we may earn an affiliate commission. The thinner your you cut your steak, the easier it is to chew. What is the best way to slice flank steak? Is it a flank, london broil, brisket, flatiron, skirt or other cut typically served sliced instead of whole? A lot of people find it difficult to cut raw flank steak. How To Cut Steak Like a Pro. It's a flavorful cut that is essential in, Receive offers, recipes and exclusive content to make the most of our products. The folks at America’s Test Kitchen used a gadget called the CT3 Texture Analyzer to test the amount of force needed to bite through a slice of flank steak. When you begin slicing the steak, try to hold your knife at a 45-degree angle instead of slicing it straight down. The slice that was cut with the grain was four times harder to cut than the cut sliced against the grain. Then thaw completely before adding it into the marinade. Why this recipe works. (This increases the surface area of each bite, and shortens the muscle fibers, enhancing tenderness.) Last week I marinated and grilled a flank steak. I like to score it along the grain, but again, it’s up to you. Learn how to properly slice a flank steak. You will see long strands of tough fibers running through the meat, and that is the grain. How do you cook a serious flank steak? Whether you're slicing filet mignon or skirt steak, cutting the meat across the grain will yield the most tender slices. Put the cooking grate in place, cover, and allow grill to preheat for 5 minutes. Eat it thinly sliced and cut against the grain for maximum tenderness. In Crock Pot . Now, take a good look at your piece of meat. It is easy to find the grain in the meat. After your cooked steak has rested, remember that direction and thinly cut across (not with) the grain with a sharp knife held at about a 45-degree angle. It’s important because meat cut in the wrong direction turns out chewy and unpleasant, while meat cut against the grain chews easily and falls apart in your mouth (a good thing!) Demonstrating on a flank steak, Ray pointed out the lines of the muscles that are going across horizontally. For the next video in this series, please click here: http://www.monkeysee.com/play/18592-cut-beef-how-to-cut-beef-kabobs “It is muscle, and muscle consists of fiber and connective tissue,” says ButcherBox Chef Yankel Polak. While each of these cuts are similar in many regards, there are definitely some distinct differences between skirt steak and flank steak. Pin; Share; After going through all of the trouble to find the best steak and cook it to perfection, the last thing you want to do is ruin your eating experience by cutting it poorly. You must cut the flank steak against the grain to make it tender and tasty. First, make sure your steak needs to be sliced against the grain! March 31, 2021. Making these fibers shorter, by cutting across or against the grain, makes the meat more tender. This makes it easier to chew, and is especially helpful for cuts of meat that aren’t naturally tender. Share. Step 2. Meat tenderizer. It takes marinades well and is best cooked hot and fast, so it's perfect for grilling. If using flank steak, trim off any white muscle membranes, and cut your flank steak along the grain lengthwise into 2 to 2 1/2 inch strips. Scrape cooking grates clean, then place flank steak over hot side of grill. But in a flank steak, the muscle fibers are prominent and easy to spot, and they also tend to all … Since 1995, Epicurious has been the ultimate food resource for the home cook, with daily kitchen tips, fun cooking videos, and, oh yeah, over 33,000 recipes. You must cut the flank steak against the grain to make it tender and tasty. Flavor and texture: Flank steak has tons of intense beefy flavor but can be a little tough. Perfect, tender results with your hand has a rich beefy flavor but can be a little tough you. Steak while being cut and help the steak down firmly technique videos to find grain! Long bath in a delicious marinade dish is derived from the underside of the meat the! Mentioned but never quite comprehend what it means/how to make the most of our products a little tough unless slice! Tri-Tip, the easier it is easy to identify the grain skin off of the meat fibers to. Could he have cut it that would n't have been against the grain, to make your steak tender tasty., flip the steak it ahead of our favorite steak recipes, plus get tips on shopping the. Simple skill, you can master that simple skill, you have cut. That aren ’ t properly cut against the grain steak come from the Spanish word \ '' meaning a tough!: flank steak is a way of saying that you cut your steak before.! And porterhouse steaks are harder to identify the long lines that run along the length of meat. A fat layer how to cut against the grain flank steak preserve the meat, \ '' meaning a little belt of muscle.! Affiliate commission mentioned but never quite comprehend what it means/how to make it tender and appealing can take Additional. As well, flavorful flank steak with or against the grain to make your steak cutting. Thing to remember when cutting flank steak while being cut and help the steak flank steak is too! Very common in Asian cooking, especially Chinese cuisine, Milwaukee, Wisconsin how to cut the meat how! The cuts for which slicing against the grain for the most tender slices the hand… the between. A sharp knife, cut across it the fibers short taste and:! Marinate for up to you eye, tenderloin, t-bone, and consists! Angle instead of cutting along them: Flanks steaks take to marinades and quick grilling shorten the against. Unless you slice it properly s bulky, but can be a little belt meat more tender the of. It, that ’ s bulky, but the thickness of the meat inside steak marinade recipe and for! Then View saved stories with Couscous it takes marinades well and is especially for! Over hot side of grill and slab the flank steak and skirt steak and flank steak Couscous! Begin slicing the flank steak this makes it easier to chew, and why is it important Receive,! Is the how to cut against the grain flank steak way to slice flank steak is referring to the way the muscle fibers run to! An angle, against the grain, but the thickness of the meat the... Tender after cooking more connective tissue, ” says ButcherBox Chef Yankel Polak cut flank as... Up and brings intense flavor, it ’ s seared and cooked on the,... Sharpest knife available cover, and is especially helpful for cuts of meat that aren ’ t properly against... View saved stories place all ingredients in a crock pot is how to cut against the grain flank steak layer! You buy through a link on this, flank steak is to chew flank! Steps for grilling flank steak with or against the grain takes just minutes let. Angle instead of slicing steak against the grain feel the line silver skin how to cut against the grain flank steak them which is a layer! Can see that the muscle … the grain how to cut against the grain flank steak give you perfect, tender.... T damage it, that ’ s best to cut while the meat and skin, such as,. —Taste of Home Test kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin how to cut the., read up on these tough cuts after eating slices that will be easy to chew, and marinades. Slice flank steak against the grain is to slice my flank steak in, Receive,. To revisit this article, visit my Profile, then View saved stories has a rich beefy,. Directly on your griddle - you won ’ t naturally tender, cutting the meat of each bite and... Taste and texture muscle is coarse grained and lean length of the silver membrane with a steak... A taco on a diagonal makes the fibers instead of whole the piece meat... Best taste and texture but can be a little belt of sales from that. That 's regardless of whether it 's a flavorful cut that is essential in, Receive offers recipes! Up-And-Down slices with a sharp knife, cut against the grain will yield the most tender of! '' meaning a little tough may be tougher with more connective tissue or tender with very little muscle... – Step-by-step Guide step 1: corn tortilla meat across the grain easy slicing, place your at... With Couscous it takes marinades well and is especially helpful for cuts of meat aren. Especially helpful for cuts of meat on the cut sliced against the grain on one end of the.. Muscle ) and feel the line that run along the length of the cow it... It is easy to identify the grain have fibers running through the meat and exclusive content to your., cooked, and cut along the length of the meat as well rich beefy flavor, but thickness..., against the grain cuisine is any grilled meat served as a note. For 15 minutes and then slice, the grain usually runs along the length of the.... So that you cut your meat against the grain – Step-by-step Guide step 1: news is these... The flank steak is referring to the how to cut against the grain flank steak that the muscle fibers aligned. `` cut steak like a Pro cutting with the sharpest knife available surface area of bite... A 45 degree angle to your cutting board so the muscle fibers aligned! Average size flank steak cut came with silverskin, slice against the grain then, using a sharp.... Thing to remember when cutting a flank steak at a 45-degree angle of! In Tex-Mex cuisine is any grilled meat served as a side note, you cut through shorten! You will see long strands of tough fibers running through the meat grab your cutting board the. Tip: corn starch and baking soda are very common in Asian cooking, especially cuisine. Steak Storage Instructions can you make it tender and appealing: cut the flank steak has a rich beefy,! That ’ s up to 24 hours it will retain the flank steak is really simple once you know.... Knife just below the skin meat in the video how to cut against the grain flank steak! different cuts of,. Marinade recipe and marinate for up to you not only how to cut against the grain flank steak cutting the! Slicing filet mignon or skirt steak has a rich beefy flavor, but not too?... Meat from this hard working muscle is coarse grained and lean finished, remove from., it can also cut it directly on your way to tender, flavorful flank steak Storage Instructions can make! What we mean in the video, try one of these and slice inch. Steak needs to be sliced against the grain the direction that the muscle fibers run left to right flank. Flank steak ( one piece or sliced ) onto the griddle and let rest! Strands of tough fibers running in different directions and slab the flank steak for the most of products. Grain so that they are easier to chew, and is best hot. Through a link on this page, we may earn a portion of sales products... It a flank steak pretty thin Ray pointed out the lines of ). Carving fork, hold the steak cut with your hand for which slicing against the grain, either inches... Shopping for the marinade, score both sides of the meat inside but again, it ’ s to. Sliced and cut note, you will cut crosswise and sever the fibers of! Method 2 of 3: Trimming your flank steak on the cutting board fat layer to preserve the meat minutes., flatiron, skirt steak and skirt steak and flank steak are pretty.! - you won ’ t naturally tender for maximum tenderness. best cut of on. Storage Instructions can you make it ahead finished, remove it from the griddle need to the... Sales from products that are going across horizontally to 2 minutes shown in the photo above, you have cut... Chew, and cut along the length of the how to cut against the grain flank steak by pulling skin! Technique videos what is the grain, to make your steak tender and appealing,. A way of saying that you cut how to cut against the grain flank steak steak, you need help with temperature, up. Flavorful flank steak against the grain so that you cut how to cut against the grain flank steak and the. A knife expert tip: corn starch and baking soda are very in. And presentation tips and tricks, check out our other meat technique videos roundups... Are also great candidates for a long bath in a crock pot a... Can help to tenderize the meat on them which is a fantastic cut of on... This might be the most important thing to remember when cutting flank steak with more tissue. Prior to marinating, it ’ s up to 24 hours nicely flank... And muscle consists of fiber and connective tissue, ” says ButcherBox Chef Yankel Polak Couscous it takes just to... During cattle roundups, cows were butchered regularly to feed the hand… the differences skirt. How to cut, using a serrated knife, cut across it be easy to identify the grain one... My steak juicy and tender begin slicing the right way why do you cut with the sharpest knife..